New Daily Needed

[Kyfoon]

Afternoon,

I’ve lurked this forum for some time, and like the advice/suggestions people come up with.

I’m looking to replace my 350z HR in the coming months. Ideally looking for something:

• Decent steering feel
• Good handling
• FWD or RWD
• Very good reliability
• Limited depreciation (or MPG decent if depreciation likely)
• Daily driver so interior not too horrendous to be around
• Can tow a track bike

My history of cars is an EP3 Civic Type R and this 350z HR, so I’m pretty fond of Japanese cars and their reliability.

Ideally I would want something around the £5k mark to put some extra money away for a while, but I’m willing to go around 8k for the right car.

My limited list so far consists of the following cars:

• Volvo C30 D3 (can’t say I know much about Volvo’s, so any pointers would be great)
• 05ish Honda Accord Euro R (can’t find anything concrete on their towing ability)
• Honda Accord Estate
• BMW E91 Touring (unsure which engines are considered the best? 325i, 330i and 330d?)
• BMW 130i (don’t know a lot about these other than the engine is meant to be good)

Would love some feedback on the above list, and I know I’m definitely missing out on some other good suggestions, so would appreciate some additional cars to look out for.

Thanks!

[ninjag]

I'm sure the Accord can tow a maximum of 1.5T

[stevekoz]

I can help a bit on the BMW 130i.

I had one. Msport derivative.

It can two 1500kg max. So not sure if that meets your requirement on kerb weight.

Car wise it was a good all rounder. Excuse the aged tech in the car and you still can get sat nav with traffic updates and also bluetooth, cruise control etc. Mine had pretty much most of the options bar sunroof.

For me this cars selling point is the engine. N52 straight six. 6 speed manual gear box. 265bhp and it really puts it to good use. The sound is sublime and for every day driving its really quite good on fuel i averaged 28mpg round town and mid 30's on a drive. To drive the car - make sure it doens't have run flats and its quite a good steer but not as poised or a stable as the e46 m3 - however - upgrade lower arms and bushes to M3 and you totally transform how the car feels - google birds suspension packages. Gives you some good information and videos.

If you can find one with the BMWP options you'll get a nicer exhaust, intake, brakes - if it has all the options and its a great car. Very much what i'd consider a baby e46 m3.

Cost wise. Stay away from dealers. They'll bend you over. A good independent and it need not be any more expensive than a golf or focus really. Engine is easily worked on from a DIY standpoint. Easy access to plugs and coils. Injectors are mechanical so can easily be swapped out etc. All very easy to work on i found and as such saved me a fair bit.

I would definitely have another one and with prices going up, it won't be long before they are commanding more money.

[ZX10R NIN]

2.5T Mondeos have good steering feel they can tow up to 2 tons so hopefully that meets your requirements:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

[Kyfoon]

stevekoz said:

I can help a bit on the BMW 130i.

I had one. Msport derivative.

It can two 1500kg max. So not sure if that meets your requirement on kerb weight.

Car wise it was a good all rounder. Excuse the aged tech in the car and you still can get sat nav with traffic updates and also bluetooth, cruise control etc. Mine had pretty much most of the options bar sunroof.

For me this cars selling point is the engine. N52 straight six. 6 speed manual gear box. 265bhp and it really puts it to good use. The sound is sublime and for every day driving its really quite good on fuel i averaged 28mpg round town and mid 30's on a drive. To drive the car - make sure it doens't have run flats and its quite a good steer but not as poised or a stable as the e46 m3 - however - upgrade lower arms and bushes to M3 and you totally transform how the car feels - google birds suspension packages. Gives you some good information and videos.

If you can find one with the BMWP options you'll get a nicer exhaust, intake, brakes - if it has all the options and its a great car. Very much what i'd consider a baby e46 m3.

Cost wise. Stay away from dealers. They'll bend you over. A good independent and it need not be any more expensive than a golf or focus really. Engine is easily worked on from a DIY standpoint. Easy access to plugs and coils. Injectors are mechanical so can easily be swapped out etc. All very easy to work on i found and as such saved me a fair bit.

I would definitely have another one and with prices going up, it won't be long before they are commanding more money.

Thanks for the response Steve, some good information there. I believe the N52 is also in the 325i E91 touring, so good to know they should have similar engine reliability if I go down that route.

I do really like the look of the 130i. The interior doesn't really bother me, in fact the leather interior probably looks a little bit nicer than my current cars. The problem is they do seem pretty damn rare to find via all the usual channels. After reading a few other forum posts, I've just signed up to babybmw in the hopes some enthusiast-owned ones crop up.

I presume there is no need to be worried about the 'HVA ticking'? Everywhere I've looked seems to state it isn't too much of a concern at this point.

[Kyfoon]

ZX10R NIN said:

2.5T Mondeos have good steering feel they can tow up to 2 tons so hopefully that meets your requirements:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Thanks NIN, one worth adding to the list for consideration!